Release Detail

December 14, 2000 - Pataki Or Giuliani Top Cuomo Or McCall In New York Gov Race,
Quinnipiac University Poll Finds;
Pataki Has Big Early Lead In Republican Primary

Either Republican incumbent Gov. George Pataki or New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani
lead Democrats H. Carl McCall, the state comptroller, or U.S. Housing & Urban Development
Secretary Andrew Cuomo in an early look at the 2002 race for New York Governor, according to a
Quinnipiac University poll released today.

Results of possible matchup in the race for Governor show:

Pataki over Cuomo 48 - 37 percent, with 12 percent undecided;

Pataki over McCall 48 - 36 percent, with 14 percent undecided;

Giuliani over Cuomo 47 - 39 percent, with 11 percent undecided;

Giuliani over McCall 45 - 39 percent, with 13 percent undecided;

From December 5 - 11, Quinnipiac University surveyed 1,063 New York State registered
voters, with a margin of error of +/- 3 percent. The survey includes 304 registered Republicans with a
margin of error of +/- 5.6 percent, and 454 registered Democrats with a margin of error of +/-4.6
percent.

"New Yorkers go with what they know. In a general election match, Gov. Pataki has a healthy
early lead over either of the likely Democratic challengers," said Maurice Carroll, director of the
Quinnipiac University Polling Institute.

"Take Pataki out of the mix and another well-known New York State Republican, Mayor
Giuliani, also runs ahead of either Democrat. It's early to think about the 2002 Governor's race, but
New York politics never stops."

Pataki's approval rating is 66 - 23 percent, his highest since a 69 - 24 percent approval
rating by an independent Quinnipiac University poll March 25, 1998. By a 55 - 17 percent
margin, voters have a favorable opinion of Pataki, with 22 percent mixed and 4 percent saying
they don't know enough to form an opinion. Favorability ratings for other possible candidate are:

"If Pataki seeks a third term, his fellow Republicans would gladly give him another four
years in the Executive Mansion," Carroll said.

"There's always the possibility that Pataki would take a job in a Bush Administration. That
would be a good move on Bush's part, according to 59 percent of New York voters, while 22
percent say it's a bad move."

The Quinnipiac University Poll, directed by Douglas Schwartz, conducts public opinion
surveys in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut as a public service and for research.

For additional data -- www.quinnipiac.edu

1. Do you approve or disapprove of the way George Pataki is handling his
job as Governor of New York?

Tot Ups NYC Sub Rep Dem Ind Men Wom

Approve 66% 71% 55% 72% 90% 51% 66% 68% 64%

Disapprove 23 19 29 22 5 35 22 22 24

DK/NA 11 10 16 6 5 14 12 10 11

7. Is your opinion of New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani favorable,
unfavorable, mixed, or haven't you heard enough about him?

Tot Ups NYC Sub Rep Dem Ind Men Wom

Favorable 47% 43% 42% 61% 70% 32% 47% 51% 44%

Unfavorable 23 15 38 17 9 35 21 22 24

Mixed 21 23 19 20 12 25 23 19 22

Hvn't hrd enough 8 17 - - 8 6 8 5 9
REFUSED 1 2 1 2 1 2 1 2 1

8. Is your opinion of Governor George Pataki favorable, unfavorable, mixed,
or haven't you heard enough about him?

Tot Ups NYC Sub Rep Dem Ind Men Wom

Favorable 55% 59% 43% 63% 84% 38% 54% 59% 51%

Unfavorable 17 15 24 13 3 28 16 16 19

Mixed 22 21 25 20 12 27 24 20 24

Hvn't hrd enough 4 4 8 1 1 6 4 4 5
REFUSED 1 1 1 2 1 1 1 1 2

9. Is your opinion of State Controller H.Carl McCall favorable, unfavorable,
mixed, or haven't you heard enough about him?

Tot Ups NYC Sub Rep Dem Ind Men Wom

Favorable 37% 37% 37% 36% 25% 44% 41% 40% 34%

Unfavorable 4 4 4 6 5 3 5 7 2

Mixed 9 8 10 9 9 8 10 10 8

Hvn't hrd enough 49 50 49 48 58 44 43 42 55
REFUSED 1 2 1 1 3 1 1 2 1

10. Is your opinion of Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Andrew Cuomo
favorable, unfavorable, mixed, or haven't you heard enough about him?

Tot Ups NYC Sub Rep Dem Ind Men Wom

Favorable 33% 31% 36% 32% 20% 44% 31% 29% 36%

Unfavorable 16 15 13 23 23 8 19 23 11

Mixed 10 10 12 8 12 10 10 9 11

Hvn't hrd enough 39 42 37 37 43 37 38 37 41
REFUSED 1 1 1 - 2 1 1 1 1

11. If the election for Governor were being held today, and the candidates
were Andrew Cuomo the Democrat, and George Pataki the Republican, for whom
would you vote?